== Early life and education ==
== Early life and education ==
Kermode was born on 19 June 1898, the son of Frederick Bacon Kermode of the Isle of Man<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/iomnhas/v051p109.htm|title=The Kermode family of Ramsey|work=Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society|first=William|last=Cubbon|accessdate=2 October 2025}}</ref> and Florence ”née” Marshall.<ref name=“:0”>{{Cite news |date=13 January 1960 |title=Rev. Sir Derwent Kermode |work=[[The Times]] |pages=15}}</ref><ref name=“:1”>{{Cite book |last=A. & C. Black Ltd. |url=http://archive.org/details/whowaswho195119605lond |title=Who was who, 1951-1960 : a companion to Who’s who |date=1964 |publisher=London : Black |others=Internet Archive |pages=614}}</ref> He was educated at [[Eastbourne College]], Sussex.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sussex Scene |work=Sussex Daily News |date=6 January 1953 |page=2}}</ref>
Kermode was born on 19 June 1898, the son of Frederick Bacon Kermode of the Isle of Man<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/iomnhas/v051p109.htm|title=The Kermode family of Ramsey|work=Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society|first=William|last=Cubbon|accessdate=2 October 2025}}</ref> and Florence ”née” Marshall.<ref name=>{{Cite news |date=13 January 1960 |title=Rev. Sir Derwent Kermode |work=[[The Times]] |pages=15}}</ref><ref name=>{{Cite book |last=A. & C. Black Ltd. |url=http://archive.org/details/whowaswho195119605lond |title=Who was who, 1951-1960 : a companion to Who’s who |date=1964 |publisher=London : Black |others=Internet Archive |pages=614}}</ref> He was educated at [[Eastbourne College]], Sussex.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sussex Scene |work=Sussex Daily News |date=6 January 1953 |page=2}}</ref>
== Career ==
== Career ==
After serving during [[World War I]] with the [[Royal Field Artillery]],<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 30271 |date= 6 September 1917 |page=9253|supp=y}}</ref> Kermode entered the [[Consular assistance|Consular Service]] in 1921. He served in various consular posts in the Far East including at [[Tokyo]], [[Yokohama]], [[Kobe]], [[Seoul]] (Consul-General), [[Shenyang|Mukden]] and [[Tamsui District|Tamsui]].<ref name=“:0” /><ref name=“:1” />
After serving during [[World War I]] with the [[Royal Field Artillery]],<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 30271 |date= 6 September 1917 |page=9253|supp=y}}</ref> Kermode entered the [[Consular assistance|Consular Service]] in 1921. He served in various consular posts in the Far East including at [[Tokyo]], [[Yokohama]], [[Kobe]], [[Seoul]] (Consul-General), [[Shenyang|Mukden]] and [[Tamsui District|Tamsui]].<ref name=/><ref name=/>
Kermode was appointed the first British Ambassador to Indonesia in 1950 following the country’s transfer of sovereignty and the establishment of an Embassy in [[Jakarta]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 January 1953 |title=British Ambassador To Indonesia |work=[[The Times]] |pages=6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=4 January 1950 |title=First British Ambassador to Indonesia named |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/indiandailymail19500104-1.2.45 |work=Indian Daily Mail |pages=3}}</ref> He remained in the post until 1953. He then served as Ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1953 to 1955.<ref name=“:0” /><ref name=“:1” /><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 February 1953 |title=New Ambassador To Czechoslovakia |work=[[The Times]] |pages=8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=18 February 1953 |title=New envoy |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19530218-1.2.38 |work=The Straits Times |pages=3}}</ref>
Kermode was appointed the first British Ambassador to Indonesia in 1950 following the country’s transfer of sovereignty and the establishment of an Embassy in [[Jakarta]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 January 1953 |title=British Ambassador To Indonesia |work=[[The Times]] |pages=6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=4 January 1950 |title=First British Ambassador to Indonesia named |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/indiandailymail19500104-1.2.45 |work=Indian Daily Mail |pages=3}}</ref> He remained in the post until 1953. He then served as Ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1953 to 1955.<ref name=/><ref name=/><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 February 1953 |title=New Ambassador To Czechoslovakia |work=[[The Times]] |pages=8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=18 February 1953 |title=New envoy |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19530218-1.2.38 |work=The Straits Times |pages=3}}</ref>
Kermode retired to England and was ordained a priest. From 1956, he was curate of [[St Peter’s Church, Portishead]], Somerset,<ref name=“:0” /><ref name=“:1” /> before being installed as rector at [[St Catherine of Siena Church, Cocking|Cocking]] and [[Bepton]] in West Sussex in January 1959,<ref>{{cite news |title=Church appointments |work=The Times |issue=54336 |date=17 December 1958 |page=10}}</ref> a post he retained for a year until his death.<ref name=“:0”/>
Kermode retired to England and was ordained a priest. From 1956, he was curate of [[St Peter’s Church, Portishead]], Somerset,<ref name=/><ref name=/> before being installed as rector at [[St Catherine of Siena Church, Cocking|Cocking]] and [[Bepton]] in West Sussex in January 1959,<ref>{{cite news |title=Church appointments |work=The Times |issue=54336 |date=17 December 1958 |page=10}}</ref> a post he retained for a year until his death.<ref name=/>
== Personal life and death ==
== Personal life and death ==
[[File:Derwent Kermode gravestone in Cocking churchyard.jpg|thumb|Sir Derwent Kermode’s gravestone in [[St Catherine of Siena Church, Cocking |Cocking churchyard]].]]
[[File:Derwent Kermode gravestone in Cocking churchyard.jpg|thumb|Sir Derwent Kermode’s gravestone in [[St Catherine of Siena Church, Cocking |Cocking churchyard]].]]
Kermode married Barbara Thorn in 1925 and they had two sons and two daughters.<ref name=“:0” /><ref name=“:1” />
Kermode married Barbara Thorn in 1925 and they had two sons and two daughters.<ref name=/><ref name=/>
Kermode died on 12 January 1960, aged 61.<ref name=“:0” />
Kermode died on 12 January 1960, aged 61.<ref name=/>
== Honours ==
== Honours ==
British diplomat (1898–1960)
Sir Derwent William Kermode (19 June 1898 – 12 January 1960) was a British diplomat who served as Ambassador to Indonesia from 1950 to 1953 and Ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1953 to 1955.
Early life and education
[edit]
Kermode was born on 19 June 1898, the son of Frederick Bacon Kermode of the Isle of Man[1] and Florence née Marshall.[2][3] He was educated at Eastbourne College, Sussex.[4]
After serving during World War I with the Royal Field Artillery,[5] Kermode entered the Consular Service in 1921. He served in various consular posts in the Far East including at Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, Seoul (Consul-General), Mukden and Tamsui.[2][3]
Kermode was appointed the first British Ambassador to Indonesia in 1950 following the country’s transfer of sovereignty and the establishment of an Embassy in Jakarta.[6][7] He remained in the post until 1953. He then served as Ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1953 to 1955.[2][3][8][9]
Kermode retired to England and was ordained a priest. From 1956, he was curate of St Peter’s Church, Portishead, Somerset,[2][3] before being installed as rector at Cocking and Bepton in West Sussex in January 1959,[10] a post he retained for a year until his death.[2]
Personal life and death
[edit]
Kermode married Barbara Thorn in 1925 and they had two sons and two daughters.[2][3]
Kermode died on 12 January 1960, aged 61.[2]
Kermode was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1948 New Year Honours,[11] and promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in the 1952 Birthday Honours.[12]
